GPA Midstream’s Pipeline Design, Operation & Maintenance group is responsible for technical matters concerning pipeline design, operation and maintenance. The committee studies gas, liquid, and multi-phase flow pipeline design (mechanical, materials, instrumentation) including construction, testing, integrity, leak detection, welding practices, NACE requirements, regulatory compliance, mapping and GIS, optimization, and modification. The committee is also responsible for software used in pipeline design, including pipeline simulators and leak detection. Work includes pipeline pressure regulation, safety devices and control room operations but does not include pipeline custody transfer measurement, product sampling and analysis, material testing, permitting or gas distribution systems. This committee meets twice per year, usually in April and October. View the Pipeline Design, Operation & Maintenance Committee Charter.
Chair: Prasanna Swamy, MPLX LP
Vice Chair: Bryan Louque, Audubon
Young Professionals Liaison: Sarah O'Donnell, ChampionX
GPA Midstream Staff Liaison: Martin Erne
Typical committee members are individuals with appropriate job responsibilities and/or expertise involving them in the design, operations and maintenance of pipelines. This committee accepts volunteers with appropriate experience, and members may also be assigned by a GPA Midstream member company.
The committee provides a forum for pipeline operators to share practices related to compliance with federal, state and local pipeline regulations..
Committee projects for the design engineer may include:
Pipeline Design Checklist
Hydrotesting Plans and Procedures
Pigging Operations and Automated Pigging Systems
Pipeline Leak Detection
Pipeline Project and Design Check List
Pressure Test Plans & Procedures
Proposed Workgroup: Damage Prevention Best Practices
Proposed Workgroup: Launcher/Receiver Standard Design
Proposed Workgroup: Minimizing Emissions During Meter Calibrations/Plate Inspections
Proposed Workgroup: Pipeline Leak Detection
Proposed Workgroup: Recommendation for Valve Spacing for Gas and Liquid Lines
The committee works with other GPA Midstream technical committees and provides technical support to GPA Midstream's Pipeline Safety Committee, which monitors safety and legislative and regulatory pipeline issues, particularly PHMSA and equivalent state agencies. The Pipeline Committee also gets reports from the Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology's (OSUIT) Pipeline Integrity Program.
